The Chair of the Dundee Integration Joint Board has welcomed a positive inspection report into adults living with mental illness and their unpaid carers.
The Care Inspectorate and Healthcare Improvement Scotland have published their findings following a Joint Inspection of Adult Services within Dundee Health and Social Care Partnership.
All areas evaluated in the report, including the experiences of people who use services and the delivery of those services, were rated ‘good’ or ‘very good’.
You can read the report in full on the Care Inspectorate Website.
Councillor Ken Lynn, Chair of the Dundee Health and Social Care Partnership Integration Joint Board said: “This is a very positive inspection report, and it highlights the dedication of the health and social care workforce in improving mental health and wellbeing outcomes for people across the city.
“I was particularly pleased to see feedback showing that people can directly access services without always needing a referral. Being able to get the right support can make a real difference.
“A key focus on early intervention is another key strength. Supporting people earlier and empowering them to manage their mental health in ways that work for them, whether in their local community or through a strong network of commissioned services, is vital.
“The ‘no wrong door’ approach to care has also been praised, helping people find the right support regardless of where they first seek help. This is also supported by a 24/7 immediate response available through Hope Point.
“Supporting carers is extremely important, and this report shows that most carers feel supported in their role and feel they are listened to.
“It’s encouraging to see the wide range of effective service that are available in the city, including activity-based support, advocacy, therapeutic services and one-to-one support.
“The report highlighted that partnership had robust commissioning and monitoring processes that involved providers, including the third sector and people who use services.
“The leadership team was also recognised for its clear vision and commitment to delivering high-quality services.
“While this is a positive report, we recognise there are areas for improvement. Work is already underway to help carers better understand their rights and to strengthen links between health and community teams to ensure that community services are in place when someone is discharged from hospital.
“I would like to thank staff for their work. This report highlights the hard work and commitment involved in providing services that make a real difference to the day-to-day lives of people living with mental illness and carers.”